Enrollment decline driving funding dip at HPS

Monday

Jun 16, 2014 at 6:30 PM

By Lisa.Ermak@hollandsentinel.com(616) 546-4219

An estimated enrollment decline of 156 students is the basis for a funding drop at Holland Public Schools.Finance Director Dave Zimmer said the district expects to have a fund balance of about $2.3 million at the end of the 2014-15 school year.“We really have made the assumption that enrollment is going down 156 and identified a number of classroom sections and other areas from a support perspective that we’re planning on reducing,” Zimmer said.While dismissals haven’t been made yet, Zimmer said he does expect staff layoffs.Expenditures for next school year are estimated at $42.3 million, and revenue at $41.8 million. That leaves a $500,000 deficit.In order to fix it, Zimmer said the district is planning to save through several measures.Early childhood programs will be restructured, with kinder programs moving to K-7 buildings and Head Start, (currently housed at the Washington administration building) moving to the Maplewood Early Childhood Center. Zimmer said the consolidation will allow for overall operational reductions.Support positions, such as receptionists, will be reduced through attrition and services provided by the district's communications department will be cut back.Zimmer also said he’s hopeful the winter of 2015 will be more tame than last year as they’re budgeting to spend less this year on snow plowing. Winter-related expenses cost the district between $250,000 and $275,000 this past winter — $150,000 more than normal.The district is also looking at offering special education services differently and maximizing its state and federal grants.“It’s a continuing challenge,” Zimmer said. “We want to make sure that we’re providing the program level that we need to for our students and community. Every year it gets more and more difficult to put the budget together.”— Follow this reporter on Twitter @SentinelLisa.